New Possibilities

Still no contact from Carol, the pretty woman with the car problem that I chatted with the other day. My memory now fading, I’m sure we agreed to meet up for coffee, I’m reasonably sure we left it that she’d contact me, but maybe not, maybe it’s for me to contact her. Or maybe I should just be wise and let it go. Maybe that’s what she’s being, wise.

Retrieving her phone number, sent to my secret email address, deleted from my phone, a routine precaution, save having to invent explanations. Entering a message on my phone, coffee sometime? Rx. Pausing. Reconsidering. Probably best to be wise. Oh, to hell with it, send, click.

Two hours, no response. Two more hours, same. Checking for error messages, maybe mine didn’t get through. Nothing. Going for a bicycle ride, a quick hour, first one this year, pleasure of good weather and longer days. Getting off the bicycle, feeling the phone vibrate, new message.

My heart pounding unreasonably, a feeling of breathlessness, more than could be explained by the ride. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm down. No particular reason to think it’s Carol, it could be anyone. Fumbling for the phone, digging it out.

Hooray, it’s Carol. Hi R, so glad you messaged, I’d managed to lose your number, yes, let’s do coffee. More stuff suggesting a time and place. At the end, no x. Never mind, agreement to meet is the main thing. Texting, okay great, see you there, R. Send, click. No x, don’t want to press.

Showering, putting on fresh clothes, feeling terrific. Coffee dripping from the machine, steaming into a mug. Cradling it, pondering. How the hell do I handle this? Should I just say to her right from the beginning, by the way, I’m married, would really prefer to keep it that way. Nice and honest.

Trouble is, we’re just meeting up as new acquaintances, start talking about marital issues, it’s way too heavy, also, it’s only relevant if she wants to go down amorous paths, I can’t assume that, and certainly can’t be caught assuming it.

So, how do I handle it? Say nothing, store up future problems if she and I get entwined.

No, I figure, just take it easy, go with the flow, say something in good time, personal stuff will come up, there’ll be an opportunity, just get the timing right, not like it’s a major thing, just make sure she has an exit route early enough if it’s a problem.

Finishing the coffee, washing the mug, drying it, putting it away. Spring sunshine through the window filling the room with yellow light. Suddenly, the world full of new possibilities.